By Rev Daniel C Tan (2020)
Rev Daniel C Tan started his pastoral ministry after graduating from Trinity Theological College in 2003. He is currently appointed to Fairfield Methodist Church as Pastor-in-Charge.
The views expressed in this article are personal and might not necessarily reflect the official position of The Methodist Church in Singapore.
Article Summary:
Deuteronomy 5:9 says:
9 You shall not bow down to them or serve them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me.
This seems to contradict Deuteronomy 24:16.
16 “Fathers shall not be put to death because of their children, nor shall children be put to death because of their fathers. Each one shall be put to death for his own sin.
But we must see the commandment for what it really was meant to be – not a curse but a warning to guard our conduct because of the implications of our actions for our children. We must be reminded that God holds us responsible for the welfare of our children. There is no such things as eternal security based on past good deeds to ensure our future well-being. Moreover, people need not despair of past evil that prevents them from enjoying life. We have personal freedom to determine at any time our own conduct. The encouragement is for us to turn away from evil.
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Note: All Scripture passages quoted in this article (unless otherwise stated) are taken from the English Standard Version.
As I was preparing this article, the Covid-19 virus is breaking out all over the world. I got to know of people who lost their income or jobs; others (or family members) were infected with the virus; some were depressed and fearful to the point of panic and acting rather irrationally. In the midst of this time of trial and testing, people asked if the reason we are going through such terrible time is because of the sins or unbelief of the generations before us that brought about God’s punishment to us. People asked for prayers for this curse to be broken.
And so, perhaps it is a poignant time to look at Scriptures to verses like Deuteronomy 5:9; Exodus 20:4-6; or even Exodus 34:7 to understand if these verses support the idea of a generational curse? What is the theological and pastoral emphasis in these verses?
Deuteronomy 5:9 says:
9You shall not bow down to them or serve them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me.
This is linked to Deuteronomy 27:15a which says:
15 “‘Cursed be the man who makes a carved or cast metal image, an abomination to the Lord, a thing made by the hands of a craftsman, and sets it up in secret.’
At first glance, these verses do seem to support the idea of a generational curse. Children will be punished for the sin of parents. The important question that must come to our mind – isn’t this a blatant miscarriage of justice? It surely looks really unfair on the part of God to punish children for the sin of parents? Why would God take out on the innocent the sin of their parents? Wouldn’t it make more sense that the people committing the sin bear the consequences of their own actions.
When we push this matter a bit further, it seems like a judge sentencing a murderer to death by hanging and extending the sentence to the murderer’s children and grandchildren. That is what these passages seem to be alluding to. This kind of justice seems totally unfair. It is totally uncharacteristic of a gracious God that we know. God seems really heavy handed.
Perhaps the kind of justice described in Deuteronomy 7:9-10 seems more justifiable. Here, the Bible records this:
9Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations, 10and repays to their face those who hate him, by destroying them. He will not be slack with one hates him. He will repay him to his face.
How do we reconcile what seems to be conflicting and confusing warnings to us? What is God really saying in these passages?
As we look at the word curse, it is generally defined as a prayer or invocation for harm; evil; misfortune; or injury to come upon someone as a retribution. Sometimes, it is known as an imprecation. In the Bible… the word curse is often used in contrast to blessing. Usually, when a curse is pronounced against any person, it is the penalty for failing to keep a promise or oath. It has nothing to do with casting a spell on someone as most people would like to believe.
At Sinai, God defines the expectations of relationship to Him in the verses we are exploring. We all know this as the Ten Commandments. God emphasizes undivided loyalty and states the fundamental principles for living in right relationship with Him with the warning of what the consequences will be if that relationship is broken. God will shower mercy on those who love Him and keep His commandments. God also warns that if the people do not follow the commandment and turn away, there will be the danger of false forms of worship which will have profound consequences for future generations – their children and grandchildren will not be properly instructed regarding the covenant relationship with God and with one another. This is essential to their life and well-being. It is important to understand God’s justice is part and parcel of God’s mercy and grace. We cannot just take Deuteronomy 5:9 to stand alone. We must look also at verse 10 (which is crucial) that says:
9 You shall not bow down to them or serve them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me. 10 but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.
When we consider these two verses, we will see something very clearly – God does not desire to curse us. Rather, it is a warning that sin has its consequences and God will punish for sins committed. More than that, these verses also show that God is more willing to bless than to curse.
When God says He will punish only to the third and fourth generations. But His mercy and grace will be shown to thousands (ESV) or to the thousandth generation (NRSV). The contrast is obvious! It shows God’s stress of His divine love and forgiveness.
God’s desire is to deal graciously and lovingly with His people and not to curse. He limits His judgment to the third and fourth generation. He shows the abundance of His grace and mercy to the thousandth generation. God’s love and mercy are the dominant characteristics of the covenant relationship.
The purpose of these passages is meant to sober us up, to bring home vividly a very important point – that our worship and our actions will have great impact on those nearest and dearest to us as they are impacted by our influence over them.
Our actions have repercussions on others for better or worse. Our sins have great repercussions on our future generations. As parents, we must seriously consider this – What sort of examples are we passing to our children?
We have often used the phrase ‘monkey see, monkey do’. The same seems to hold true of our children. No, I am not calling children monkeys. ‘Children see, children do’ is something we are being warned in these passages today. When children see adults abusing their spouses, they might learn to abuse their spouse in future. When children see adults gambling, they might learn pick up gambling. When children see adults smoking, the chances of them becoming smokers when they grow up is greater, and I am sure you can add more examples.
This is the so-called generational curse our Scripture passages are warning us about. Our actions will have great impact on those nearest and dearest to us. Of course, the opposite is also true. When children see adults praying, they will grow up to value prayers. When children see adults giving of their time and money to help the less fortunate, they will learn to be generous to those who have less.
Therefore, we must heed warnings before it is too late. We might think that we can sidestep the consequences of our actions, but in truth, we cannot. Sin has its consequences. Obedience has its rewards. The wages of sin is death. That is the curse – eternal death. Therefore… we are all doomed? No! We are not without hope. It is not the end for us. We can see from the Bible that God will not abandon His children.
For example, even as God drove Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden, God took the time and tenderness to make clothes for them and help them to dress themselves. The Bible is filled with examples of the grace of God. God’s mercy accompanies people even in their wickedness. And God’s grace culminates in the cross of Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul in his letter to the Galatians tells us that:
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. (Galatians 3:13a)
But that does not mean that we can continue to sin. Just because God is gracious and kind does not mean He will not punish. We must remember the vivid warning that we will also bear the consequences of our sins. Look at Ezekiel 18:19-20 and it will be clear for us.
19“Yet you say, ‘Why should not the son suffer for the iniquity of the father?’ When the son has done what is just and right, and has been careful to observe all my statutes, he shall surely live. 20 The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.
The warning is clear – We will bear the consequences of our sins. In fact, the whole of Ezekiel 18 is very clear. The highlight is in verses 3-32:
30“Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin. 31 Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live.”
Summary
And so, in summary, what does all these mean for us then? What are the lessons that we can draw from these passages?
On the surface, Deuteronomy 5:8-10 seems to contradict Deuteronomy 24:16.
16 “Fathers shall not be put to death because of their children, nor shall children be put to death because of their fathers. Each one shall be put to death for his own sin.
But we must see the commandment for what it really was meant to be – not a curse but a warning to guard our conduct because of the implications of our actions for our children. We must be reminded that God holds us responsible for the welfare of our children. There is no such things as eternal security based on past good deeds to ensure our future well-being. Moreover, people need not despair of past evil that prevents them from enjoying life. We have personal freedom to determine at any time our own conduct. The encouragement is for us to turn away from evil.
We cannot conclude that God is fickle-minded, unpredictable or even unreliable. What is true is that God is on the side of life for all rather than death for anyone. God’s justice is part and parcel of God’s mercy and grace. And God’s mercy and grace is shown to the thousandth generation. God’s desire is to deal graciously and lovingly with his people. We can see this in the limitation on His judgment and the abundance in His grace and mercy to the thousandth generation.
The Bible is filled with promises of hope. God declares that He stands on the side of life not death. He finds no joy in cursing anyone. He finds no joy in anyone’s death, not even that of a wicked person.
The warnings given to us are clear. We are not doomed. There is a way out if we repent of our sins and find life in Him. Even though the sins of God’s people would have bad consequences throughout generations, there is grace and mercy given to everyone on the basis of their personal repentance. Repentance involves a fundamental change of direction – turning away from sin and committing oneself to the will of God.